Transformation over time in Kochila/Saptariya Tharu Architecture: A case of Baswalpur village, Saptari, Nepal
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IOE Pulchowk Campus
Abstract
Urban growth and speculative housing construction in rural areas, especially on the
outskirts of the city, are leading to changes in property relations and the deterioration
of traditional lifestyles and landscape characteristics. Rapid population growth in cities
requires new housing demand, which is met in the surrounding rural areas. This process
of urban development occurs with urban sprawl at the expense of rural areas. Tharus
are one of Nepal's major ethnic groups, and Tharu architecture is an excellent example
of ethnic architecture with an ecologically responsive design. However, as a result of
urbanization, many tharu settlements are shifting to fit modern demands, and traditional
houses have been modified, with contemporary appliances, new spaces, and domestic
life added that bear little resemblance to the original. In this study, changes in
architectural forms in the Kochila tharu community are observed. In attempt to extract
an urban pattern or a rationale from what may appear to be haphazard disorder, a survey
of traditional villages in the southeast of Nepal, specifically Baswalpur village of
Saptari district, is undertaken. The objectives of this research are to investigate the
paradoxical phenomenon of the house transformation in this village; to learn what the
actual design of the traditional vernacular house is; to determine the extent of the impact
of the transformation; to identify the factors that contributed to it; to examine the new
roles and values that make up the new configuration; and to discuss how these new
values affect the meaning and values of the original configuration. To investigate the
effects of changing the physical configuration on the values and meanings of traditional
homes, field observations were made at a few houses chosen using the purposive
sampling technique, and interviews were conducted. The conclusion is drawn on the
housing form in relation to people’s way of living and will shed light on socio-culturally
sustainable development and regeneration towards contemporary settlement of
Baswalpur. This paper will also contribute to the argument for an impact of typological
processes of physical environment on the local culture. With the identification of these
factors, it is anticipated that this study will serve as a reference on house transformation
and offer a reasonable perspective for community, government, and development
measures on the transformation of traditional homes in Baswalpur village
Description
The boom and speculative housing of rural areas, mainly suburban cities, has caused
changes in ownership, and deterioration of traditional styles and panorama functions.
The fast population boom of cities creates new housing needs, which are met via the
encircling rural areas. This city improvement technique happens as the metropolis
expands into rural regions. (Koca, 2006)